• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Thunderbird Club

#83,942
vbass_2000 said:
I still have my '82 MTI SVT head. I never weighed it, but when it's in it's Anvil case I estimated the weight to be about 150 pounds. Between rehearsals and gigs I used to move it 3 or 4 times a week for almost 20 years. Looking back, I must have been insane to haul that amp around. I've been playing out the last 16 years with a much lighter St Louis Music era SVT 400T. After 36 years I've decided to sell the MTI SVT...the best amp I've ever owned but I never want to move it again...and unfortunately I can't take it to the grave with me....or can I?:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

You could, have it displayed in the same casing as this & you'll never have to worry about it :P
bulletproof-glass.jpg


I love the sound of SVTs, but considering i can get a good tone through my 3 solid states, i'm good. If i ever came across an old svt from the 70's or 80's era for a steal, i'd think twice about hesitating xD
 
  • Like
Reactions: Dr_Feelgoood212, dukeorock, GonePlaid and 1 other person
#83,943
ZachM said:
I've been considering modding my T-bird and putting a 1M cap in there to really brighten things up, I want the piano sound out of mine.

Actually. what I really want to do is take my Epi Classic IV and mod it like a thunderbird II:
  • Remove the bridge pickup and fill the route
  • Replace neck pickup with chrome Thunderbucker 66N pickup
  • nickel hardware and replace bridge with better model
  • refinish in Polymist Gold or Inverness Green
Basically, make it look like this one with a few modern improvements
Click to expand...

That is NOT Inverness Green... Inverness Green is much darker and metallic...

The one in the link is either Kerry Green, Surf Green or Seafom Green.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Dr_Feelgoood212, GonePlaid, Larry V and 2 others
#83,945
hillerup said:
That is NOT Inverness Green... Inverness Green is much darker and metallic...

The one in the link is either Kerry Green, Surf Green og Seafom Green.
Click to expand...

It appears you're right, I thought maybe that shade had something to do with the age of the guitar and I just took the description as being the correct color.

Looks like Kerry Green is actually the shade I'm after rather than Inverness, although that is also a nice color.
 
  • Like
Reactions: hillerup, RedVee, dukeorock and 2 others
#83,946
ThaCoast said:
You could, have it displayed in the same casing as this & you'll never have to worry about it :p
View attachment 3047643

I love the sound of SVTs, but considering i can get a good tone through my 3 solid states, i'm good. If i ever came across an old svt from the 70's or 80's era for a steal, i'd think twice about hesitating xD
Click to expand...
I love mine so much it never leaves the garage...
5M6gT5GXIc3wUT3sBEIK1uRXhyprh7065RBV5vyyY5LokYmRp_gmvcFMmIy1zOftR4OP_JzMGOw550g&owa=outlook.live.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Dr_Feelgoood212, Instagator, hillerup and 9 others
#83,947
theFixer said:
I believe those Epi pups with the bezels and covers are different from the standard Epi TB IV pups. I'm sure @hillerup can advise.

Doesn't Dorothy have those same pups Lar?
Click to expand...

The limited Edition bolt-on neck Epi birds in TV Silver, Silverburst, Alpine White, Ebony and Vintage Sunburst that all came with chrome hardware had those specific pickups. Some claim they are originally guitar pickups with 6 poles under the cover - But I can neither confirm or deny this, as I've never had them off any of mine that has them.

To my ears they don't sound any different from the other bolt-on neck Epi models that I have. And should there be any difference (that my ears can't detect), that could very well be due to the different strings on them.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RedVee, dukeorock, GonePlaid and 5 others
#83,949
hillerup said:
The limited Edition bolt-on neck Epi birds in TV Silver, Silverburst, Alpine White, Ebony and Vintage Sunburst that all came with chrome hardware had those specific pickups. Some claim they are originally guitar pickups with 6 poles under the cover - But I can neither confirm or deny this, as I've never had them off any of mine that has them.

To my ears they don't sound any different from the other bolt-on neck Epi models that I have. And should there be any difference (that my ears can't detect), that could very well be due to the different strings on them.
Click to expand...

I remember Uwe taking his silver one apart and posting some shots of the pickups - goes back quite a few years now. They were 6 pole guitar pickups.
 
  • Like
Reactions: hillerup, RedVee, dukeorock and 4 others
#83,950
theFixer said:
As we discuss frequently here... "good" is in the eyes/ears of the beholder. Perhaps this will help you out some. The T.V. Silver one you're looking at, is a "Limited Edition" version of the Epiphone Thunderbird IV bolt-on that I have, and I wouldn't hesitate to step on stage with mine. To my knowledge... the only differences between the model I have, and the one you're looking at, is the finish and the pickups. It's been about a year since we last spoke about these LE pups, but I remember them being liked quite a bit. IMHO... any good playable Thunderbird is a bargain at $200. The value only increases by virtue of being an LE model. If it comes with a hardcase... it becomes a mandatory purchase;)

hillerup has a heavy work schedule, so we we don't get to see him around as much as we'd like, but if you were to send him a PM, I bet he'd get back to you pretty hastily. He knows the pups we're talking about here. In fact... I'd be surprised if I learned that he didn't actually have the same bass you're considering:)
Click to expand...

I do indeed have a TV Silver Epi and a Silverburst Epi as well with those pickups. :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: RedVee, dukeorock, GonePlaid and 3 others
#83,951
I have a sub gig on Friday with a heavy rock band. My VP came with black coated strings which are probably DRs. The tone is good (what I could hear with a too-loud guitarist) but I was finding them a little sticky at rehearsal last night. (They are clean, just too much friction)
I'm thinking about putting on a set of Rotosounds - Swing bass 66 stainless (45-105). It's been a long time!
I know they are going to sound great, but will they feel much different? Maybe I've just gotten used to flatwounds?
 
  • Like
Reactions: GBassNorth, RedVee, dukeorock and 4 others
#83,952
Engle said:
I have a sub gig on Friday with a heavy rock band. My VP came with black coated strings which are probably DRs. The tone is good (what I could hear with a too-loud guitarist) but I was finding them a little sticky at rehearsal last night. (They are clean, just too much friction)
I'm thinking about putting on a set of Rotosounds - Swing bass 66 stainless (45-105). It's been a long time!
I know they are going to sound great, but will they feel much different? Maybe I've just gotten used to flatwounds?
Click to expand...
I know there are many strings out there but to me, nothing sounds or feels better on the Birds than RS 66s (40 - 100).
 
  • Like
Reactions: GBassNorth, GonePlaid, Engle and 1 other person
#83,958
Engle said:
I have a sub gig on Friday with a heavy rock band. My VP came with black coated strings which are probably DRs. The tone is good (what I could hear with a too-loud guitarist) but I was finding them a little sticky at rehearsal last night. (They are clean, just too much friction)
I'm thinking about putting on a set of Rotosounds - Swing bass 66 stainless (45-105). It's been a long time!
I know they are going to sound great, but will they feel much different? Maybe I've just gotten used to flatwounds?
Click to expand...
66s are the best end of! Other bests exist of course but 66s are really good on a bird
 
  • Like
Reactions: hillerup, GBassNorth, GonePlaid and 2 others

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back